What to know about Greenland’s flag as a potentially perilous fight with US appears to be averted

Greenland, the world's largest island, recently reached a deal with the United States and Denmark, potentially averting a tense situation over the territory's future. The agreement, to be signed at the U.N. General Assembly, will increase the U.S. military presence in the semiautonomous Danish territory. The flag of Greenland, adopted in 1985, is simple in design and carries symbolic meaning.

Consisting of two horizontal bands of white and red, with a large off-center circle representing the sun, the flag reflects Greenland's unique position between the Arctic and temperate zones. The flag's colors and design honor Greenland's historical ties with Denmark while emphasizing its distinctiveness and autonomy.